Author Description

A keenly observed social history of a ritual, an industry, and a subculture. Celebrates the history and allure of our favorite rite of passage. In the past 150 years the wedding has gone from private ceremony to public event, yet the fundamentals remain the same -- weddings are the only social events in America where matters of money, sex, and class are brought to the fore. The growth of the middle class and the development of the popular media play a role in Wallace1s tale, as does the eternal vision of The White Dress in its metamorphosis from gown to costume. Her captivating narrative spans the range of weddings from pioneer ceremonies in the Wild West to Princess Grace1s stately nuptials in Monaco, from Old New York to contemporary Las Vegas. Illus.